Goal: Show how unclear writing in everyday situations can cause delays, errors, or even harm.
We often take it for granted that people will understand what we write. But in reality, unclear and ineffective communication can have serious consequences—especially in essential services like housing, healthcare, or public administration.
Imagine receiving a letter from your city about a housing benefit, but it’s full of vague phrases like “supporting documentation may be required” or “submit your claim within the relevant time frame.” Without precise information, many people don’t know what to submit or by when. The result? Delays, lost opportunities, or denied benefits—not because someone did something wrong, but because the information was unclear.
In healthcare, unclear communication can even put lives at risk. Research has shown that medication labels such as “take two tablets by mouth twice daily” are frequently misunderstood. Patients may not know what the indication means, how many doses to take, or when to stop. In one study, only 35% of patients with low literacy skills could interpret prescription instructions correctly (Davis et al., 2006). The consequences range from ineffective treatment to dangerous overdoses.
Even public health messages can confuse. During the COVID-19 pandemic, phrases like “social distancing” and “non-essential travel” were widely misinterpreted. Some people thought they couldn’t go outside at all. Others didn’t realise that their job or medical appointments counted as essential. Confusion led to fear, non-compliance, and distrust.
These examples show that vague communication is never neutral. It creates barriers and stress, and it disproportionately affects people with lower literacy, limited language skills, or high stress levels.
Plain language is the antidote. It replaces vagueness with clarity, jargon with everyday words, and long blocks of text with usable information. In short: good communication is clear, precise, and respectful of the reader.